“I should probably head back home,” she managed, knowing that for the first time in her life she’d have a regret at leaving Colorado.
“But I’m not ready for you to go,” said Mandy, stepping forward and pulling Katrina into a hug.
Katrina hugged back, keeping a wary eye on the mare. The animal moved, and Katrina jerked away, coming up against Reed.
“Chicken,” Reed teased under his breath.
“She’s scared of those, too,” Mandy pointed out.
“I’ll take my chances with the traffic and the panhandlers,” Katrina retorted.
Caleb and Travis approached, stripping off their leather work gloves.
“I’m about done,” said Caleb, lifting his hat and swiping the back of his hand across his hairline.
Travis nodded at the muddy truck, and Katrina remembered to step away from Reed.
“Nice,” Travis noted.
“Half the hillside came down around it in the storm last night,” said Reed.
“You stay at the line shack?” asked Caleb.
Katrina braced herself, unable to look at anyone. Would they guess? Would they ask? What would Reed tell them?
“We did,” Reed answered easily. “The princess was forced to eat pancakes and maple syrup for dinner.”
“She nearly walked out on me when she discovered there wasn’t a wine cellar,” Reed added.
She shot him an angry glare.
Caleb laughed.
“That’s my baby sister,” Travis added.
“That’s not why you’re leaving, is it?” asked Mandy.
Katrina caught something in Reed’s expression, and she suddenly knew what he’d done. He’d deflected any hint of suspicion that they might have done anything other than fight last night. She should be grateful to him, not angry.
She’d make sure she told him so later.
She turned back to Mandy. “That’s not why I’m leaving. I have to get back to work.”
“I suppose you do,” Mandy allowed, her voice tinged with sadness.
Caleb pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. “I’ll get Seth and Abigail up here. The least we can do is have a farewell barbecue.”
On the back deck of his ranch house, Reed stood to one side, watching Katrina laugh with her two sisters. She seemed more relaxed on the ranch than she’d ever been, but, ironically, she looked even more untouchable. She’d showered, as they all had, and she’d changed into a simple, clingy, white knit dress. Her legs were bare, and she wore her navy suede ankle boots with a looping, blue-beaded choker and matching earrings.
Her hair was swept up in a wispy blond knot, and her face all but glowed with carefully crafted makeup. Her eyes shimmered a sexy deep blue in the waning light. If somebody were to snap a picture, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind it would make the cover of
Still, he couldn’t help but wish she was back in that ugly old boxy T-shirt, in the line shack, in his bed.
Caleb appeared beside him, and Reed shifted his attention to the river.
“I hear you’re building a house,” said Caleb, handing Reed a cold bottle of beer.
Reed accepted it. “You heard right.”
“Been planning it long?”
“Working on the drawings for a couple of years now.”
Caleb nodded.
“Waylon Nelson,” Reed told his brother into the silence.
“Come again?” asked Caleb.
“You should hire Waylon Nelson.”
“Who is he and why would I hire him?”
“Ranch manager,” said Reed.
Caleb straightened in obvious surprise. “You read the resumes?”
“I told you I would.”
“I thought you were lying to get me off your back.”
“I was. But I changed my mind.”
“Good. Good. That’s great. Waylon Nelson. Okay. I’ll take another look at him. But if he’s got your vote…”
“He does. Hire him now.” Reed took a swallow of the beer. “Right now.”
Caleb’s eyes narrowed in obvious confusion.
Reed allowed his gaze to return to Katrina. “You’re going to need the help. I’m heading to New York City.”
Caleb’s head snapped up, and he turned to stare at Katrina. Then, immediately, his attention went back to Reed. He stepped up close, voice lowered to a hiss. “You didn’t.”
Reed lifted his brow in a question.
“You slept with Katrina?” Caleb accused. “You
Reed stared straight into his brother’s eyes. “A, I wouldn’t tell you if I had. And B, that’s not why I’m going to New York City.”
“Then why are you going to New York City?” Caleb demanded, clearly convinced his suspicions were correct, and clearly still loaded for bear.
Reed kept his gaze steady. “I’m a young single guy with fifteen million dollars to spend. There’s a long list of good reasons why I’m going to New York City.”
And on the top of that list was Quentin Foster.
Caleb backed off ever so slightly. “You’re looking for business investments?”
“Maybe,” Reed allowed, though the possibility was exceedingly slim.
“You need Danielle to meet you there? I can call her.”
“How about I call Danielle if I need her?”
“But you
“If I need her.”
“Don’t go signing anything without her,” Caleb warned.
“I’ll be fine.” Reed could sign his fist into Quentin Foster’s malicious, conniving nose without any assistance from Caleb’s lawyer.
“Why don’t you take the jet?” Caleb offered.
“Sure.”
“You can drop Katrina off.”
“No problem.”
Reed supposed a better man would feel guilty about misleading his brother. But he hadn’t technically lied. Whether he’d slept with Katrina was none of Caleb’s business. And Reed certainly wasn’t heading for New York City in the hopes of having a fling with her.
He was going along to protect her. Nothing more, nothing less. Hell, once they hit the bright lights and big city, she wasn’t going to look twice at a rangy, weather-beaten cowboy like him, even if he did know something about Dior and had once taken a tour of a winery in Napa Valley.
In the taxi heading into midtown Manhattan, Katrina felt as if two worlds were about to collide. In the backseat next to her, Reed looked relaxed, slouched back, seat belt loosely around his hips.
“Have you been to New York City before?” she found herself asking. She didn’t think he had, but he didn’t seem at all out of place, and he wasn’t gawking around like a tourist at the tall buildings.
“Nope,” he answered. “Anything in particular I should see while I’m here?”
“The Liberty Ballet at the Emperor’s Theater.”
He smiled at her joke. “Wouldn’t miss that.”
